Month: October 2015

Last month we received the Nuby Bath Letters and Numbers as part of our Sassybloom box subscription for BattleKid and didn’t take it out for a few weeks. When we did eventually open the box, BattleKid made a beeline for these, asking for us up “epen” it.

I bribed him with them to get him upstairs for a bath and that’s when the fun began. I opened the packet and placed the numbers on the side of the bath for him to push in (a favourite bath-time game of ours) and he squealed with delight, asking for more after the first few were floating on the water.

These simple foam numbers and letters have become a bath-time favourite, along with Tappy, over his squirty animals. He enjoys pushing them into the bath to watch them float. Then he enjoys placing them on the side of the bath, as they stick to the bath wall when wet, before splashing and sploshing them back into the water.

The Nuby Bath Letters and Numbers are made from durable foam which float in the water and also stick to the wall of the bath (or tiles) when wet. They are colourful, bright and a great size for little hands. Although BattleKid is only 22 months old he really loves playing with them, so much so it’s a battle to get him out of the bath without 3 or 4 in his hands. I can also see them becoming invaluable when he starts learning his letters and numbers soon alongside our Tappy Safety Toy too!

I was a bit dubious about these when I saw them in our Sassybloom box but they’ve been a big hit in the BattleHousehold for lots of bath-time fun. I’m glad they were included now. These are available from most retailers like Amazon (priced at £5.99) but they are currently on sale from the Nuby website at £4.49*, and in my opinion they’re worth it for the fun we have playing with them!

One of the best things we invested in when BattleKid was only a few weeks old was a changing unit for downstairs. The top of his chest of drawers in his bedroom is a changing top but I needed something downstairs to save both my back and having to go upstairs to change every nappy.

In the first few weeks after giving birth I had a towel and a storage basket in the sitting room for nappy changes. The basket had nappies, bags, cotton wool, wipes, changes of clothes and lots and lots of muslins. I’d bend over the couch to change BattleKid and my back soon started to give out. Getting down on my knees was a challenge too. Changing a nappy became a nightmare and coupled with my slow recovery and inability to freely move for weeks due to my episiotomy wound, I started to feel very down and frustrated and I dreaded nappy changes.

So, to try help me out especially during the week when he wasn’t home, BattleDad went on the hunt and came across a changing unit on the Kiddicare website from BabyWeavers that looked ideal for our living room. We had plenty of space for it and it would save both of us from bending over the couch to change BattleKid. It was £45 and was well worth it.

It is no longer available but Kiddicare have a very similar one for £40 here (at the time of writing this post). Amazon do one similar to ours as well here.

The unit has a changing top and also two shelves underneath for everything you’ll need for nappy changes. We put a padded changing mat on the top for BattleKid and lined it with a muslin for the first year or so, so it wasn’t too cold on his back or bum. In the first 6 months I had nappies, nappy bags, wipes, cotton wool, Bepanthen cream, muslins and changes of clothes stored on the shelves below. This has been reduced to just the staples now and at 21 months old I’m still using it for BattleKid’s nappy changes downstairs, with the bottom of it storing things like books for BattleKid and my mini changing bag (review of that coming soon). Even Baby L has been changed on it when W&S come to stay. I doubt I’ll stop using it either until BattleKid is toilet trained, or perhaps if we need the corner of the sitting room for our new Christmas tree. He might not like it too much these days and can protest quite loudly but it’s a necessary evil!

I know a lot of people don’t bother with changing units and some may not have the room for one downstairs, but if you do why not consider investing in one. It really did save my back and my sanity and is still in use today. I really do feel it was one of the best things we invested in when BattleKid was little.

After a good sleep and cuddles in my bed for 20 minutes we joined BattleDad and had a bop. Afterwards we got up and I started getting things packed as we waited for the others to get up. I did another round of breakfast sandwiches for breakie before we cleaned up the kitchen.

At 9.15am I got us dressed and we started packing the Landy as soon as BattleDad arrived back with it. At 10.20 we left Bluestone and headed for a Farm shop near Crosshands with W and S.

Until next time Bluestone

We had tea and cakes before browsing the shop. I picked up some lovely burgers to have that night for dinner, along with some stewing beef, sausages and fresh vegetables. It was a great find and somewhere I think we’ll visit again.

Farm shop near CrosshandsFun over tea with BattleDad

Another hour on the road and we arrived home. BattleDad had to get to work so I tried to settle BattleKid for a nap but he was having none of it so we went down to Cyfarthfa retail park and browsed Boots and Matalan.

We had an early dinner of burgers, mash and gravy which BattleKid tucked into. We all had an early night as we were knackered and I was back to work while BattleKid was back to nursery the next morning. We had another great weekend in Bluestone and are looking at our diaries for early next year to see when we can pencil in our next visit!

Next on the agenda is Ireland for my sister’s forthcoming wedding next week. It’s all go in the BattleHousehold!

BattleKid woke just after 6am and we had loves in my bed for about 20 minutes before we hopped into bed with BattleDad for bop time. We got up just after 7am and headed upstairs where the George hat was found and BattleKid stuck his head out for it to go onto his head. He’s permanently attached to the hat!

Breakfast with a George hat on is more than acceptable at 21 months old!

I made us breakfast sandwiches with bacon, sausage and egg once everyone was up and they were tasty if I do say so myself. I hadn’t had one for ages! After breakfast we got ourselves ready to go to the Blue Lagoon for a swim. BattleKid had a whale of a time. His confidence in the water is growing thanks to our Waterbabies classes. He thoroughly enjoyed the lazy river with BattleDad and kept saying “again”. Unfortunately W only joined us after 40 minutes as he had to go blow up a floatation device for L and he wasn’t a happy camper when he came in. We got out shortly afterwards as BattleKid was starting to get cold, much to his disgust. He wanted to stay in. We got dressed and walked back to the lodge for our showers. Sunday carvery was booked for 12.30pm so we had to get a move on.

W and L came down with us while S had her shower. However due to no phone signal at the Farmhouse Grill restaurant she couldn’t get hold of us to see if she should join us which was a pity.

BattleKid and I had the pork and we both ate really well, having worked up an appetite during swimming. While he played on some John Dere tractors in the kids play area beside our table, us adults sneaked in dessert. I went for the lemon tart which was nice but not as nice and BattleDad and W’s chocolate overload (with popping candy)! I should have had that!

John Dere TractorLemon tartChocolate overload

After we finished dessert we paid up and headed back to the lodge to a slightly disappointed S. She and W took L back out to spend some family time together while BattleDad and I read BattleKid a story on our bed which I had bought in Window on Wales in Solva the day before. His eyes started blinking and the head was nodding so I read it again and to our surprise he fell asleep. BattleDad put on some white noise on his phone and we drifted off to join BattleKid in the land of nod. 2.5 hours later we woke up! That’s the first time BattleKid has ever fallen asleep on our bed listening to a story. May it happen many more times!

When we got up BattleKid was a bit cranky but we moved upstairs to play with him while we waited for W and S to get back, and once the George hat went in his head he was fine. We had a cuppa while we played cars, bikes, and built towers for him to knock over. W joined us soon after as he’d actually been asleep downstairs. We decided to take our tea outside to the picnic table while BattleKid had a tea of fruit and snacks. It was lovely sitting outside for a while and S arrived back from the playground with L while we were out there.

Sunset over Bluestone. The picture doesn’t do it justice.

I took BattleKid rabbit spotting on the suggestion of BattleDad as dusk was coming in and we saw 3! This was the first time we’d done this together, just me and my boy, animal watching and I loved every minute of it. It started getting a bit chilly so we took the boys inside to relax for an hour before bedtime, but not before I took a few pictures of the sunset. It was a lovely time all of us chilling together.

Once the boys were in bed BattleDad and W went to Llanddewi Velfrey to collect an Indian takeaway from a place called Chameli’s. I have to say the food was really good. So if you’re ever in Bluestone I can recommend them for an Indian. You do need to collect it yourself so bear that in mind. But it’s worth the 10 minute drive.

After dinner we had another round of Catan which S won and another game of Ticket to Ride which W won, again! I do enjoy playing both games. At 11.15pm we turned in and I slept well in the spare bedroom with BattleKid.

Gateholm Lodge

Tomorrow it’s time to pack up and head home as it’s Day 4 at Bluestone.

BattleKid started crying from 5.30am and wouldn’t settle back to sleep even in my bed. BattleDad eventually took him at 6.30 so I could try get another hour or two. I was wrecked! I managed to get a little bit of sleep until I finally got out of bed at 8.20am. It wasn’t proper sleep as the Gateholm is upside down living like the Ramsey we had last time and the floors upstairs creek a lot. So I didn’t managed to drop off fully. However, the rest did me some good. I didn’t feel too exhausted.

Breakfast

We had a cup of tea when I got up before S cooked us breakfast of pancakes with crispy bacon and maple syrup. It was really nice. We had started having this at home after she mentioned it last time they stayed in ours and I never tire of having it for breakfast. They had discovered it on their honeymoon in Canada.

After breakfast we had a shower and got dressed, ready to go out. We decided to head out of Bluestone itself as BattleDad and I have never been around West Wales, so W and S offered to show us a few places. We first drove to Newgale Beach.

Dead dog on the way to Newgale!

When we arrived we parked beside the surf shop and took a quick look inside. BattleDad and S were on the hunt for hats as it was rather cold and windy. While in there we spotted a monkey hat which looked very like Curious George. I just had to get it for BattleKid. We showed it to him outside and he promptly removed his pumpkin hat and asked for “Jorge” to go onto his head. This was the first time he had ever ASKED for a hat to go on his head. He normally hates hats and tries to remove them at the first chance he gets. But nope, George went on and there he stayed!

New George hat

We climbed over the rocks and took a nice stroll on the beach, me taking intermittent shots on my dslr. The light wasn’t great but I still managed one or two nice ones. While strolling on the beach BattleKid discovered shells for the first time and we collected a few, which I plan to wash and put into his memory box.

With my boy

After our stroll we decided to head for St. David’s for lunch as it was getting close to the kids lunchtime. S warned they might stop suddenly if the pottery shop in Solva was open and stop we did. Solva is a lovely little village on the road to St. David’s from Newgale and we ended up staying there for lunch.

BattleDad had spotted a “fresh crab sandwiches” sign outside some lovely tea rooms so we went in after visiting the pottery shop for our lunch. It was the loveliest tea rooms I’ve ever been in. I had a cheese and pickle sandwich and a huge pot of Mocha Chai tea, which was heavenly. BattleDad and W had the crab sandwiches while S had the Welsh Cawl. BattleKid ate well, was well-behaved and in great form despite being up early.

Lunchtime selfieThe Old Pharmacy Tea Rooms

Gorgeous china tea-pot and cupA tea strainer and all!The Old Pharmacy Tea roomsThe sign which made us stop for lunch

I think the snooze BattleKid had on the drive to Newgale helped to keep him in good form over lunch. We had a really lovely lunch together and all of us were relaxed, including the boys. We agreed we need to do that more often!

After lunch S and I went into Window on Wales and I bought a present for BattleKid for his birthday (I’m struggling with ideas for it), a card for my sister’s forthcoming wedding and a one cup/teapot combo.

Solva shop front

Once we had finished our spot of shopping we joined BattleDad and W at the car park and BattleDad suggested I walk to the end of the car park while he got BattleKid into the car and I was thankful he did as there were boats there. I’m a big fan of boats, particularly traditional fishing ones and I got a few quick snaps on my phone. I even found one with my mum’s name on it!

After leaving Solva we headed to St. David’s but both boys were asleep in the cars when we arrived so we didn’t stop and instead headed back to Bluestone. I napped on the way back while BattleDad drove and I was thankful for it. When we arrived back BattleKid was still asleep so I sent BattleDad down with W and S to get a nap while I waited in the car with BattleKid. He stayed asleep for am extra 40 minutes and I was glad I had data connection on my phone I tell you! When he woke we walked down to the lodge to get ready for dinner which was booked for 5pm.

I felt guilty about the timing of dinner as there was a Wales rugby match on at the same time. I had offered to change the dinner booking but W and S said not to, that they’d keep track on their phones.

Ready for dinner

We had dinner in the Oak Tree restaurant and I can fully recommend it if you ever visit Bluestone. All the food was delicious and tasty and the service was excellent. I was unsure if BattleKid would eat much so ordered him half the lamb cawl to start and he devoured it. I also ordered him the chicken and pesto mash from the children’s menu and that was just as well received by him. I was surprised but glad of him eating well! As for me I shared the antipasti platter with BattleDad to start and had their monkfish special for my main: monkfish in pancetta with spinach and cannellini beans. OMG it was so tasty! We all were stuffed and happy after dinner. I was glad we did 5pm so that we didn’t disturb too many other diners. While we were in there there were three other families having dinner but when we left a few adults-only groups started coming in so I was glad we were leaving as they were coming in. They could have their dinner in peace, haha.

The hat went back on after dinner!

After dinner, the George hat went back on and we headed back to our lodge. It was pj’s on all round and bottles for the boys after we did a bit of tower building with L’s stacking cups. BattleKid had great fun knocking them down and even L started getting into it after being unsure at first. He’s growing up so fast and it’ll be his first birthday soon! Time flies. After the boys went to bed we took out the games and started with Settlers of Catan again with cuppas all round, decaffeinated this time though! BattleDad won that game before we moved onto Ticket to Ride. I nearly won that until W made his last move. He scuppered me finishing a route which would have meant I’d have won. I ended up on 134 points while he got 137. Damn!

We headed to bed after that game at 11 and I decided to go straight into the spare bedroom with BattleKid. In went my ear plugs and I went to sleep pretty quickly thankfully. I slept well. It must have been the fresh air we got at the beach.

We had a lovely day and finally got to see a bit of West Wales. I can see us doing a week-long stay in West Wales in the future.

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